PM consulting allied parties on Presidential candidate: CPI(M)

New Delhi, May 9 (UNI) The CPI(M) today confirmed that the Manmohan Singh government had commenced the exercise of consulting UPA constituents and the supporting parties on a presidential candidate, while asserting that the joint UPA-Left candidate will have ''added strength.'' ''The PM is consulting the UPA constituents and other supporting parties,'' CPI(M) parliamentary group leader and Rajya Sabha member Sitaram Yechury told mediapersons at a press conference in the precincts of Parliament amid reports of the PM meeting CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat and his CPI counterpart A B Bardhan over the weekend to discuss the issue.

''But we will go in for a political personality who has impeccable secular credentials,'' he added.

The term of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam ends in July and the political parties have started talks on selecting his successor. However, the outcome of the UP assembly elections may change the political equations in the country with the main players in the state - the BSP and the SP -- acquring more influence.

Mr Yechury, however, made it clear that his party would take the final decision only after the UP results are known on May 11 even some reports say that the issue could be discussed even tomorrow when UPA and the Left leaders reach Chennai to participate in the celebrations to honour Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief M Karunanidhi for completing 50 years in legislature.

The Left parties are said to have discussed the issue informally at their recent joint meetings, but have not officially announced their candidate yet. However, they are said to have a definite preference for Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, while the BJP may go in for Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who is said to have ''friends'' in all parties.

Mr Yechury noted that the UP poll results were ''crucial'' as what happens there would influence the presidential polls because of the relative higher vote value of UP MLAs.

UNI